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Thursday, 15 October 2015

You can have great brows too!

Flashback 5 years ago, who could have predicted how eyebrow OBSESSED we would be now?! Back in the day I'm sure we all committed some brow sins, whether it was tweezing them to near extinction or covering them with foundation until they were no longer visible... We've all been there. So here's some little tips and tricks on how to get the perfect "Instagram Brow!"

1) Its all about the shape.

Every day I see brows of all different shapes and sizes; over plucked brows, brows that haven't been touched and almost all of the time we can do something with them. I can't stress enough how important it is to see someone to regularly shape your brows, as there are view few woman I've seen who can do their own brows and not get carried away. A professional takes your face shape, hair colour, makeup style etc. into consideration when tailoring your brow and uses a range of techniques to perfect your brows! I always recommend HD Brows to those enquiring as I genuinely believe they are the original and the best. However if you do choose to do your own brows, have a look at your face shape... If you have small facial features, will you really suit a larger brow? If you have plenty of eyelid space, would they really benefit from being thinned out?

2) Products, Products, Products!

Now what products you use depends on your makeup style and what you want to achieve, but for the purpose of this post we are talking carved out, perfectly sharp Instagram brows! This technique will take time to master, but once you have it you'll love the result. Firstly (and most importantly), is finding a good eyebrow brush! There are so many on the market out there that it can understandably be a little overwhelming trying to choose one so I thought I'd share my 2 personal favourites. The Zoeva 322 Brow Line is perfect for a sharp line at the base of the brow and for creating a precise tail end, however my personal favourite is the MAC 208. This brush is small yet firm which allows you precise application and packs on the colour!

Next up is the actual brow products, my 2 die hards are the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pomade or the Illamasqua Brow Cake. Both of these will give you pigmented colour whilst lasting as long as you do. I've posted a colour guide below so if you're unsure of which colour to get, have a look below!

3) Step by Step.

Before you even start on your brows, I recommend priming your eyelids so you're ready for your eyeshadow or mascara afterwards, I like to use MAC Prolongwear Concealer for this or Collections Concealer which is only £4 (Step 1)! Next up, you want to start by loading your brush with your chosen product and tapping off any excess. Start about a 1/3 of the way into your brow and start to brush the product along the base of your eyebrow trying to keep the line as straight as you can (you can go outside of your natural brow if it allows you a more precise shape). Follow this by doing the top of the brow, allowing your brush to create a nice subtle arch which should be just above the pupil of the eye (Step 2). Any leftover product should be subtly dragged through the first 1/3 of the eyebrow to create that gradient or ombre effect we all love! Comb through the brows with a clean mascara wand to soften the look (Step 3). The final step is to get a small, firm concealer brush and line along the edges of the brow with a cream concealer 2 times lighter than your own skin tone (Step 4) then blend out with your finger, this will give you a lifted effect and the illusion of more arched brows.

Brow Before.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Finished Brow!

If you'd like any more tips & tricks on anything makeup related, leave me a comment and let me know! :)

ARK xo

Anastasia Colour Guide!

Taupe - Best for those with Ashy Blonde/Light Brown hair who like a natural effect.

Blonde - Best for those with Golden Blonde/Light Brown Hair who like a natural effect.

Caramel/Soft Brown - I have both of these and honestly they are very interchangeable. Best for those with Warm Dark Blonde/Light Brown hair.

Auburn - Best for those with Warm Light Brown/Auburn/Red hair.

Medium Brown - I found this one to be darker than it sounds. For Ashy Medium Brown/Dark Brown hair.

Chocolate - Best for those with Warm Dark Brown hair or who like a dramatic effect.

Granite - Best for those with Ashy Dark Brown/Black/Blue Black hair or those who like a dramatic brow.

Ebony - Best for those with Neutral or Warm Dark Brown/Black hair or those who like a dramatic brow.